so its been a while since i have had a third gen, but the bug bit me and i thought i bought my unicorn. ive been looking for a small project but i was picky, i wanted a gta 5 speed, digital dash t-top flame red car and low and behold one came up, needed paint as it was sun faded and motor was shot, also the spi label was missing i should of known something was up because it had vented fenders but it has been a while and it didn't really click with me, so what i actually purchased was a trans am that someone put a full gta interior in, wheels, badges the whole works and did it a long time ago so it had perfect patina to fake anyone. it even has the gold Pontiac logo on headlight. anyway im still going to restore it and have fun with it, i may end up selling it down the road if a true gta comes up. my question is should i keep the vented fenders and loose the gta badges, or put non vented fenders and make it a 100% clone with badges? i plan on keeping the interior gta since its in good shape. and yes im sure someone didn't put vented fenders on a gta as they had vin stickers on backside that matched car, and under all the faded paint on the ground effects was silver as the car would of originally been flame red with silver ground effects. anyway just trying to get input from the community. it really sounds stupid asking this question but i guess i really want to just hear other opinions

 

There's no W in "Lo" but that's okay.
I say make the car what YOU WANT.
If it were my car, I'd keep it "Trans Am" and enjoy the custom interior (lose the GTA badges). But like I said, make it what YOU want...

 

I'm with T.L.

It's your car and since it's obviously not some rare pristine condition survivor, who cares if it's not "correct" or whatever concourse numbers matching OEM stock hoity toity TV auction crap that 99% of people don't even pay attention to? Make it what you want.

Personally I would just leave the fenders and whatever isn't broken, fix it up and enjoy driving the car. If you actually meet someone out in the real world that knows the difference between a trans am and a GTA go buy a lottery ticket because you might win big.

 

Personally, I'd lose the GTA identifiers. Nothing wrong with a base T/A, especially if it's loaded up with equipment.

 

The interior is most likely original to the car. Interior options, such as digital dash, articulating seats and door panels, were available to both, the Trans Am and the GTA.

The door panels were even available to Firebirds and Formulas.

Not sure what interior badging there would be, other than map pocket and horn button (1987), but since the interior was already so much like a GTA, the/a previous owner apparently decided to go the rest of the way himself, inside and out. BAM! "GTA" in 30 minutes or less.

If you're wondering which identity to keep, that interior in a Trans Am is probably more unique than in it being in a GTA.

 

Its your choice but Id put Trans Am emblems on it or just enjoy it as it is.

 

As has been said, make it whatever you want. If you want it to look like a GTA, then go for it. Fender vents or not, doesn't really matter. GTA clone or go back to T/A decals/etc. won't affect the value. It's not a low mileage all original car, so it matter more that whatever you do is done tastefully and done well. Just when/if you sell it, be honest about what it is.

 

Make it what you want and dont worry what others think. There are so many of these cars out there with many having been made their own by their owners. You are the only one who has to be happy with how the car is done. If you cant be happy in the long run knowing it didnt leave the factory as a GTA then send it to a new home and continue searching for the one you want.

As far as the GTA "experts" the world is full of them, lol. I have a roller listed on mp and its comical at the self proclaimed experts that have came out of the woodworks on it. The ad states the console is missing yet they keep asking for the option codes off the spid, others have tried telling me the option label was in the door [ like a 4th Gen] and others wanting the vin to decode. They all get butt hurt when you educate them,lol. Laugh is on them though as there is an assembly line broadcast sheet stuck under the carpet passenger rear footwell and it has the vin and in the center has GT/A right on it.